Mechanical sign apparatus



y 1944- A. J. ALFORD Y 2,348,276

MECHANICAL SIGN APPARATUS Filed April 28, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I nuentor y 1944- A J. ALFORD I 2,348,276

I MECHANICAL SIGN APPARATUS Filed April 28,-'l942 3'Sheets- Sheet 2- Inventor (mf M EM May 9, 1944. J ALFQRD 2,348,276

MECHANICAL SIGN API ARATUS Filed April 28, 1942 a Sheets-Sheei Andrew Jig/0rd Attorney:

Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATEN T orricl-z j MECHANICAL SIGN APPARATUS Andrew J. Alford, McComb; Miss. Application April 26, 1942, Serial No. 446,859 I 3 Claims. .01. 40-25) This invention relates to new and useful 'improvements in changeable exhibitors and more particularly to a sign carrier apparatus for either indooror outdoor use.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a sign carrying or hanging apparatus which moves in a manner to bring successively different signs into view for observation by the public.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an exhibiting apparatus which is substantially automatic in operation.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2 with a portion broken away.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-! of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the hanger panel.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the post equipped with an eye and a cable at its upper end to the end that the apparatus may be suspended.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the apparatus includes a post 5, which may have its lower end disposed into a floor socket 6, or as shown in Figure 9, the post which is therein denoted by reference character 5a may, instead of the floor socket 6, have an eye 1 in its upper end so that it may be suspended by a cable or like member 8.

Reverting now to the form of the invention shown in all views except in Figure 9, it can be seen that a plurality of brackets 9 are secured to the upper portion of the post 5. These brackets are constructed of channeled material and each includes a horizontal arm a and an inclined brace member I), each arm a having a downwardly turned end portion a, welded or otherwise secured to thepost 5 while each bracing leg 9 has a downwardly disposed end portion 11 welded or otherwise secured to the post 5. i Y

The brackets 9 support an annular track-l0 at the outer end portions of the arms a in the manner substantially shown in Figure 3. The arms a may be welded or otherwise secured to the track H] which is of I-shape in cross section.

Above the arms a of the brackets 9 is a bushing ll secured to the post 5 and, in turn, secured to this bushing II is a hub l2 from which radiates a plurality of sign supporting arms l3, the outer end portions of thesearms l3 having collars l4 and these collars of the several arms l3 are bridged by tie rods I5 which, of course, serve to stabilize and reinforce the supporting arms.

Below the inner ends of the arms I3 is a wheel l6 and bolts l1 extend through this wheel and upwardly through openings in the arms l3. The bolts [1 are equipped with nuts I8 and spacers I9 are provided on the bolts for spacing the wheel l6 from the arms l3. 4

Numeral 20 denotes a panel having. a horizontally disposed flange 2| at its upper end formed with threaded recesses 22, to receive machine screws 23 which are disposed downwardly through slots 24 inone of the arms a.

Numeral 25 denotes an electric motor having a clamp band 26 from which projects a bracket plate 21 having a slot 28 therein to receive machine screws 29, which are driven into threaded recesses 30 in the panel 20. Obviously 'by loosening these screws 29, the motor can be shifted on the panel 20 to the desired position so that a drive roll 3| on the armature shaft 32 of the motor 25 can be brought into the proper frictional engagement with a driven wheel 33, this wheel being located and suitably secured to a vertical shaft 34 which is journaled through bearing members 35 on a bracket 36 which is suitably secured to the panel 20. The shaft 34 extends upwardly through the flange 2| of the panel 20 and through a bearing 31 rising from the flange 2!. The upper end of the shaft 34 is provided with a drive roller 38 for frictional drive with the wheel l6.

A plurality of sign units 39 can be secured by clamps 40 to the arms l3 as suggested in Figures 2 and 5.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the motor 25 can be adjusted by the bracket 21 to get the proper friction between the roller 3| and the wheel 33, and the panel 20 can be adjusted by the machine screws 23 to get the proper frictional engagement of the drive roller 38 with the wheel I 6.

Casters 4| are carried by the arms l3 and rising annular track l0.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed asnewisz- A g 1. In ai'rotarysign apparatus, a post, a hub journaled on the post and having horizontal arms radiating therefrom, brackets radiating from and fixed on the post beneath said arms, a circular horizontal track mounted on the brackets con-' concentric with the post, rollers carried by the arms and running on the track, a ring gear secured to the arms and disposed between the inner ends of the arms and thebrackets concentric with the post, and driving means for the ring gear mounted on one of the brackets.

3. In a rotary sign apparatus, a post, a hub journaled on the post and having horizontal arms radiating therefrom, brackets radiating from and fixed on the post beneath said arms, a circular horizontal track mounted on the brackets concentric with the post, rollers carried by the arms and running on the track, a

ring gear secured to the arms and disposed becentric with the post, rollers carried by the arms and running on the track, the outer ends of said u arms projecting outwardly of the track, and'signs suspended from the outer ends of the arms.

2. In a rotary sign apparatus, a post, a hub journaled on 'the post, and having horizontal arms radiating therefrom, "brackets; radiating from and fixed on the post beneath said "arms, a circularhorizontal track mounted on the brackets tween the inner ends of the arms and the brackets concentric with the post, and driving means for the ring gear mounted on one of the brackets, said driving means including a. vertical panel secured to the brackets and having a ver- 20 tical shaft journaled thereon, a gear on the upper end of said" shaft engaging the ring gear, and a motormounted on the panel and geared to said shaft. 7

ANDREWJ. ALFORD. 

